DRILL CELEBRATES MILESTONES

The world has been a challenging place since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has created many difficulties for everyone in all facets of our professional and personal lives. While we are all experiencing these challenges and hardships in these exceptional times, it makes it even more important for us to seek out the positive, and to celebrate where we can, the many successes and...
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Six Lessons for COVID-19 Rehabilitation from HIV Rehabilitation

Saul Cobbing, together with DRILL co-fellow, Professor Verusia Chetty, has collaborated with a number of international experts in HIV rehabilitation to describe six lessons that can be applied from their field to the growing field of COVID-19 rehabilitation. This information was published recently in the high-impact journal, Physical Therapy Like HIV, COVID-19 is a viral infection with currently...
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The myth about 5G network during COVID-19 pandemic

Globally, the conspiracy theory that 5G technology can spread COVID-19 could have a significant effect on tackling the spread of the pandemic. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the impact of the myth about the 5G technology on the COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan African (SSA). A cross sectional survey of 2032 respondents was conducted from April 18 to  May 16, 2020, a few weeks following...
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The missing piece between audiologists and parents of deaf children

Researchers at UKZN have discovered that audiologists, parents and experts can all contribute to a comfortable decision-making process following the diagnosis of hearing loss. This allows audiologists to be relevant, and parents clear about making informed intervention decisions. Counselling following the confirmation of a hearing loss can reduce delays and frustrations during the...
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Reflections on my journey into the field of Health Professions Education

For some, academia is a choice, a lifelong pursuit. For others, it happens almost organically. I fall into the latter group, having first been introduced to the training of health professionals during my work within the development sector some 15 years ago. Prior to joining the academic sector, I was also involved in the establishment of new optometry schools, developing curricula for new...
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Developing a policy brief: Physical activity and health for children and adolescents in Africa: COVID-19 and beyond

COVID-19 has challenged us globally in so many ways. It has impacted our health and our economy; affected how we communicate and gather; mourn and celebrate and of course, travel. It has “clipped our wings” and exposed our vulnerabilities.  But, it has also highlighted the importance of physical activity and exercise, for our overall health and wellbeing, and for the wellbeing and social...
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Perspectives of religious denominations on body donation

South Africa is a multi-religious country with Christianity being dominant. Christianity is the most practiced religion in the world, with more than two billion followers and a multitude of denominations that vary in spiritual values and beliefs. The practices of Christians within different denominations in South Africa are diverse. If denominations vary in this manner, the possibility of...
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Ethical principles guiding human tissue research

South African Regulations[1] provide for the donation of a human body, tissue, blood, blood products or gametes from any person with the informed written consent of the person.  Deontology is defined as the moral duty to do the right thing and the moral duty to refrain from things which are wrong . Therefore, the ethical norm of human tissue research must be informed by deontological ethics. The...
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Exploring religio-cultural practices of body donation

Body donation is defined as an informed and free act of giving one’s body after death – this is generally regarded as an altruistic act. Several factors impact on the willingness of the public to donate their bodies to science. Included among these are culture and religion. Culture has several definitions such as “the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious,...
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The procurement of Cadavers for research

Human tissue is instrumental for research in anatomy.  However, controversy and debate surrounding the procurement of human tissue have arisen in recent years.  Reliance on unclaimed bodies has been the practice in several countries whilst South Africa has body donation programmes where challenges nevertheless still arise. This has resulted in an increased awareness of maintaining high ethical...
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COVID-19 treatments: Beware the hype

Researchers warn against “miracle cures” promoted through the politicization of the global COVID-19 outbreak. The success of vaccines in preventing infectious diseases has given us hope that COVID-19 could be controlled or even eliminated. Despite scientists working around the clock, there is still no safe and effective vaccine, nor is it expected that there will be one soon. With cases in South...
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Come on kids, let’s defeat the coronavirus

A book for children that will help them to understand and deal with COVID-19 has been written. Children around the world are affected by COVID-19. They have been sent home from school and are expected to keep their distance from their friends and extended family. Children need to live holistic, healthy lives with appropriate social and educational development. COVID-19 has caused much anxiety...
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